Cleveland Cavs (2016 NBA Champions)

[NFBuck]

Waiters has one value, scoring. He does little else. LeBron is an elite scorer, Kyrie is a very good scorer. If Wiggins can be just above average (12-15 ppg), Waiters has little value here. Add in the reported attitude issues, and he's somebody that should be moved to sure up other areas.

I'm not sold on the need for Love. Yes, he's a big scorer on a terrible team. Yes he pulls down a lot of rebounds. But, both TT and Andy are good rebounders. As is LeBron. If Love comes here, I'd expect to see a statistical drop off similar to what Bosh experienced in Miami. That, coupled with his defensive deficiencies would make me very weary of dealing much for him. Definitely not Wiggins. With Wiggins and LeBron defending the perimeter, this team should be very solid for a few years there.

I'm admittedly enamored with Wiggins potential. I think he could develop into a solid 18-5-5 guy in pretty short order while providing the excellent D I mentioned before. That, coupled with LeBron and Kyrie is a solid "Big 3", and the best part is it's mostly home-grown...aside from LeBron going off to "college" for four years.

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

I don't like the idea of getting older... James Jones is in his 30s, same with Mike Miller.. It seems like they are going to make the same mistakes as before.. Panic, get old veterans at the end of their career and trying to win in the first 2 years and sacrifice the future... I would try to find a serviceable center and play the year out unless Minni drops their insane demands for Love..

 

[NFBuck]

I don't like the idea of getting older... James Jones is in his 30s, same with Mike Miller.. It seems like they are going to make the same mistakes as before.. Panic, get old veterans at the end of their career and trying to win in the first 2 years and sacrifice the future... I would try to find a serviceable center and play the year out unless Minni drops their insane demands for Love..

They both come cheap, and are here likely for a short period. They both provide shooting off the bench, and can help mentor the pups. I have no problem with either move. This isn't like 2005-06 where they were signing middling guys like Larry Hughes, Damon Jones, and Donyell Marshall to be major cogs. They're accessories to the young talent and LeBron.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

I would agree NF.. but the talking heads.. and the really good ones.. the ex NBA coaches .. are VERY quick to say.. Cavs add Love and they're in finals and even odds champs.. that Love's game is the ideal fit to LeBron's game...

 

[NFBuck]

I would agree NF.. but the talking heads.. and the really good ones.. the ex NBA coaches .. are VERY quick to say.. Cavs add Love and they're in finals and even odds champs.. that Love's game is the ideal fit to LeBron's game...

Eh, talking heads do just that...talk. I wouldn't be upset if they traded for Love, but I don't think it's necessary. I've never been crazy about Love's game. I think he's a bit overrated, and his gaudy statistics are a product of playing on a barren roster. If they can get him for some package of Waiters/TT/picks...great. Just do not give in on the Wiggins demand. I think Wiggins, long term, will take them further.

 

[Piney]

Waiters has one value, scoring. He does little else. LeBron is an elite scorer, Kyrie is a very good scorer. If Wiggins can be just above average (12-15 ppg), Waiters has little value here. Add in the reported attitude issues, and he's somebody that should be moved to sure up other areas.

While I have no problem sending Waiters off to Minnesota for Love, don't pooh pooh him. Waiters is a scorer, plain and simple. IF he is still on the team, I want Waiters to head the bench unit and/or be on the floor when Kyrie and LeBron are on the bench. That is his perfect role, just wish he would accept it.

 

[NFBuck]

While I have no problem sending Waiters off to Minnesota for Love, don't pooh pooh him. Waiters is a scorer, plain and simple. IF he is still on the team, I want Waiters to head the bench unit and/or be on the floor when Kyrie and LeBron are on the bench. That is his perfect role, just wish he would accept it.

That's the rub. Maybe the opportunity to be part of something potentially special, and playing with one of the best ever will cause him to accept that type of role. If so, he definitely has a role on this roster as a "microwave" Vinnie Johnson type that adds instant scoring off the bench. But, if he's gonna sulk because he's not getting 30-35 minutes every night, then I think he's pretty expendable.

 

[exhawg]

Waiters won't be on the roster much longer.

Cavs just signed James Jones to a one-year deal.

It seems like we are adding a bunch of SG/SF types and only really have Kyrie and Delly to play PG if they trade Waiters. Looks like Cherry will be leading the summer league team for the rest of the run so it will be interesting to see how he does. Going in you can pretty much assume Kyrie is going to miss 10-20 games every season so they need to have a backup PG that can spot start. With all these guys they are adding I'd look for Lebron to play more 4. Maybe they are counting on Thompson being the backup C and Bennett being the backup PF to Lebron.

 

[NFBuck]

Kyrie has missed time due to injury all 4 years he's played major basketball (college & pros), so that is a concern. But, in fairness, he did miss only 11 last year. Hopefully with LeBron around eleviating some of the pressure to score and make things happen, he won't be so...um...fragile. But, i'd submit if you have Waiters running point for any significant period, you're already in trouble.

 

[OH10]

I wouldn't write off Waiters as an attitude problem. Quite frankly, he showed more heart on both sides of he floor last year than Kyrie... by a long shot.

 

[NFBuck]

I wouldn't write off Waiters as an attitude problem. Quite frankly, he showed more heart on both sides of he floor last year than Kyrie... by a long shot.

Fair point. And, frankly, if I was playing for a team that had just rehired Mike freakin' Brown as my coach, I might be a little surly too...

 

[LordJeffBuck]

What are you hearing LJB?

The Cavs don't like his attitude or his mental toughness. I have heard him described as "mentally unstable".

He complained about sharing the ball with Kyrie, now he has to share with Kyrie, Lebron, and Wiggins. Good luck with that. He's not a team guy, and he simply isn't going to fit in here.

The Cavs have been trying to move Waiters - no secret there. Obviously, he would be a key piece in any Kevin Love trade, but if that falls through, look for Waiters to be dealt somewhere before the season starts.

David Griffin stated that he wanted the Cavs to get longer, more athletic, and better shooters. Look at who the Cavs have acquired recently:

LeBron James - long, very athletic, decent shooter
Andrew Wiggins - long, very athletic, decent shooter
Mike Miller - long, very good shooter
James Jones - long, very good shooter

Waiters gives you none of that.

Over the past two seasons, Waiters' 3-point shooting percentage is just .342, while LeBron, who is not known as a pure shooter, is shooting .391; Miller is shooting .441; and Jones is shooting .411 (in limited action).

Last year, Waiters shot .433 overall (97th best in the NBA) and .368 from three-point range (75th best). He's not a good shooter, and he never will be. What good is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard who can't shoot? He's good for a trade, if someone will take him.

Waiters doesn't fit the template. He is a "ball dominant" player who isn't nearly as good as the other two "ball dominant" players on this team (Kyrie and LeBron).

 

[wadc45]

It seems like we are adding a bunch of SG/SF types and only really have Kyrie and Delly to play PG if they trade Waiters. Looks like Cherry will be leading the summer league team for the rest of the run so it will be interesting to see how he does. Going in you can pretty much assume Kyrie is going to miss 10-20 games every season so they need to have a backup PG that can spot start. With all these guys they are adding I'd look for Lebron to play more 4. Maybe they are counting on Thompson being the backup C and Bennett being the backup PF to Lebron.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....onday-sign-me-up-for-the-dante-exum-fan-club/

Mathew Dellavedova has been maybe the best point guard in Las Vegas. Not in terms of pure talent, but because he can run an offense and always seems to make the right play. Summer League is where players come to get noticed and often point guards don’t want to just organize and run the offense. Dellavedova is doing just that. He got into the paint and can finish (3-of-4 in the paint in this game) also got a nice outside catch-and-shoot motion, which could come in handy with that LeBron James guy on the Cavs now.

 

[jlb1705]

I'm not sold on the need for Love..

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

Just in case Minnesota is reading our board

Dion Waiters is THE best shooting guard and a great addition to any locker room